Direct fuel injection and ignition system for internal combustion engines

ABSTRACT

A direct injection fuel system for internal combustion engines is disclosed, which relies on a novel device for preparing, injecting and igniting a stratified air-fuel charge inside the cylinder of an internal combustion engine.  
     A single, preferably electrically triggerable, injection and ignition device prepares, supplies and ignites the stratified air-fuel charge.  
     The device of the invention favorably uses the variable pressure existing inside the cylinder, during the compression stroke, to control fuel flow and fuel jet penetration.  
     The injection and ignition device of the invention divides the total amount of fuel injected per cycle into a main fuel dose and a pilot fuel dose. The main fuel dose is injected into the combustion chamber through a set of main injection ports, forming a lean mixture therein. The pilot fuel dose is a small fraction of the total fuel dose and it is injected, through a set of pilot injection ports, in the proximity of the ignition source of the device.  
     One preferred embodiment of the device of the invention has a combustion shell, which physically defines a predetermined volume inside the combustion chamber. The combustion shell surrounds both the pilot ports and an ignition source. The combustion shell has a plurality of torch nozzles cut through its walls.  
     Thus, a stratified charge is formed in the cylinder, with a rich mixture kernel being created in the vicinity of the injection and ignition device, and a lean mixture field being created in the remaining volume of the combustion chamber.  
     When a high voltage is applied to one of the two electrodes of the injection and ignition device, at least one electric spark is created between two electrodes. In the preferred embodiment, the electrodes are designed to create a plurality of sparks, in a circular pattern surrounding the central injection valve.  
     The spark or sparks easily ignite the rich mixture kernel. As the fuel burns inside the combustion shell, the pressure therein will rise and the combustion flames will be ejected through torch nozzles into the combustion chamber. Other embodiments do not use a combustion shell, but rely solely on the kinetic energy of the flames to initiate and propagate combustion through the lean mixture field.  
     Thus torch ignition of the lean mixture field occurs, permitting the engine to run efficiently on an overall leaner mixture than a homogenous charge spark ignition engine.

[0001] This application claims benefit under 37 CFR 119e to the provisional application 60/210085

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] Not Applicable.

Statement Regarding Federally Sponsored Research or Development

[0003] Not Applicable.

Reference to Microfiche Appendix

[0004] Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This invention relates to fuel systems for internal combustion engines and more particularly to stratified charge and torch ignition engines.

[0006] Direct injection, combined with stratified charge and torch ignition is an effective means for simultaneously reducing emissions and fuel consumption in spark ignition engines. In most prior art concepts, air-fuel mixture stratification is obtained by physically dividing the combustion chamber into a main chamber and an ignition chamber. The two distinct chambers are fluidically connected by means of one or more torch nozzles. A lean mixture, generally prepared outside the cylinder, is supplied to the main chamber. A small amount of fuel is injected directly into the ignition chamber, thus forming a rich mixture therein. This rich, easily ignitable mixture is then ignited, in the ignition chamber, and the resulting flame is ejected through the torch nozzles, thereby igniting the lean mixture from the main combustion chamber.

[0007] The most recent designs achieve mixture stratification utilizing only direct fuel injection and controlled fluid movement inside the cylinder. Inducing and controlling the fluid motion is sometimes accomplished entirely inside the cylinder, using special piston and combustion chamber shapes. Alternatively, the motion is initiated externally, by means of specifically profiled induction profiles and then it is maintained and controlled in the cylinder. A separate spark plug is necessary to initiate combustion.

[0008] Some disadvantages of the prior art designs are:

[0009] Complicated combustion chamber and intake duct design;

[0010] The engine must be specifically designed to operate as a stratified charge engine, requiring special piston and cylinder head shapes;

[0011] Most designs use two separate fuel systems to achieve charge stratification;

[0012] Most designs use a separate spark plug to ignite the fuel, thereby making the implementation of this method to the modern, multi-valve engines, a challenging task.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The device of the invention overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art by utilizing a single injection and ignition device to supply the fuel, form the stratified charge and ignite the fuel. The injection device effectively divides a predetermined fuel dose into a main dose and a substantially lesser pilot dose. The main and the pilot dose are injected during the compression stroke of the engine. The variable cylinder pressure during the compression stroke is used as a means to control fuel flow rate and fuel jet penetration into the combustion chamber.

[0014] The pressure rise inside the engine during the compression stroke co-operates with the device geometry to ensure the formation and optimum spatial placement of a rich mixture kernel, and to control the formation and spatial distribution of a lean mixture field.

[0015] At a predetermined time, an integrated ignition source provides an electric spark, which ignites the rich mixture. The subsequent combustion flames propagate through the lean mixture field, thereby promoting the torch ignition of the fuel thereof.

[0016] Objects and advantages.

[0017] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are:

[0018] The compact injection and ignition device of the invention can be easily installed on modern multi-valve engines;

[0019] Instead of relying on combustion chamber geometry to form and control charge stratification, the device of the invention utilizes its own geometry, in co-operation with the variable cylinder pressure instead. Therefore the injection and ignition device of the invention can be installed on a variety of existing engines, requiring only small constructive changes.

[0020] The injection and ignition device of the invention can be used for fueling an engine with a traditional liquid fuel, such as gasoline, or with a gaseous fuel, whereby the device can be used to convert a Diesel engine to operation on a gaseous fuel, with only minimal constructive modifications of the pistons or cylinder head.

[0021] The injection and ignition device of the invention permits the modified spark ignition engine to run on an overall leaner mixture than a traditional, homogenous charge, spark ignition engine, with superior efficiency, approaching the Diesel cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0022]FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the injection and ignition device, according to the invention.

[0023]FIG. 2 reveals the operation of the injection and ignition device of the invention.

[0024]FIG. 3 shows the injection and ignition device control pulse waveform, superimposed over the pressure rise curve, during the compression stroke of the engine.

List of Reference Numerals

[0025]1 Fuel Inlet

[0026]2 Fuel Passage

[0027]3 Fuel Port

[0028]4 Body

[0029]5 Solenoid

[0030]6 Nozzle

[0031]7 Electrical insulator

[0032]8 First Electrode

[0033]9 Valve Seat

[0034]10 Fuel Discharge Cavity

[0035]11 Combustion Shell

[0036]12 Combustion Chamber

[0037]13 Second Electrode

[0038]14 Torch nozzle

[0039]15 Pilot Injection Port

[0040]16 Main Injection Port

[0041]17 Valve

[0042]17A Valve Stem

[0043]17B Locating Collar

[0044]18 Fuel Passage Groove

[0045]19 Stroke Limiter

[0046]20 First Spring Retainer

[0047]21 Return Spring

[0048]22 Second Spring Retainer

[0049]23 Armature

[0050]24 Electrical connector

[0051]25 Electrical terminals

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0052]FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the injection and ignition device of the invention. The device has a fuel inlet 1, fluidically connectable to an external source of fuel. At least one fuel passage 2 is machined through the fuel inlet. The fuel passage permits fluid communication between the fuel inlet and a fuel port 3.

[0053] Fuel inlet 1 is fixedly mounted to a body 4. Means are provided to ensure a fluid tight seal between fuel inlet 1 and body 4. Also fixedly mounted inside body 4 are a solenoid 5, and a nozzle 6. An electrical insulator 7 and a first electrode 8 are fixedly mounted in nozzle 6.

[0054] In the preferred embodiment of the injection and ignition device of the invention, the first electrode is electrically connected to a positive terminal of an interruptible high voltage source, such as an ignition coil.

[0055] Means are provided to ensure fluid tight seals between body 4 and nozzle 6, between electrical insulator 7 and nozzle 6, and between first electrode 8 and electrical insulator 7.

[0056] Nozzle 6 comprises a valve seat 9 and a fuel discharge cavity 10.

[0057] Fixedly mounted to nozzle 6 is a combustion shell 11. Combustion shell 11 protrudes into an internal combustion engine combustion chamber 12. A second electrode 13 is fixedly mounted to the combustion shell. In the preferred embodiment of the injection and ignition device, the second electrode is connected to a negative terminal of said external high voltage source.

[0058] The combustion shell has at least one torch nozzle 14, machined therethrough. In the preferred embodiment, there is a plurality of torch nozzles, arranged in a predetermined pattern, the geometry of which depends on the combustion chamber architecture.

[0059] Fuel discharge cavity 10 fluidically communicates with the space delimited by combustion shell 11 by means of at least one pilot injection port 15. Fuel discharge cavity 10 is also fluidically connected to the engine combustion chamber by means of at least one main injection port 16. In the preferred embodiment, there is a plurality of main injection ports and a plurality of pilot injection ports, arranged in predetermined patterns, the geometry of which depends on the combustion chamber architecture. The total area of the main injection ports is substantially larger than the total area of the pilot injection ports.

[0060] Slidably mounted in nozzle 6 is an injection valve 17. The valve has at least one fuel passage groove 18 cut thereunto. In its preferred embodiment, the injection valve has a plurality of equidistantly spaced fuel passage grooves. In the absence of the fuel passage grooves, others embodiments may use at least one internal fuel passage machined through the valve. Injection valve 17 has an elongated cylindrical stem 17A, fixedly and permanently attached thereunto.

[0061] Fixedly mounted between body 4 and nozzle 6 is a stroke limiter 19. A first spring retainer 20 is mounted on the valve stem.

[0062] In the preferred embodiment, spring retainer 20 is slidably mounted on the valve stem and is axially located on stem 17A by a collar 17B.

[0063] In its neutral, non-activated position, injection valve 17 is resiliently urged against valve seat 9 by a return spring 21, thus providing a fluid tight seal between the valve and the seat. Return spring 21 abuts against, and is pre-compressed by, a second spring retainer 22. Second spring retainer 22 is fixedly mounted between body 4 and solenoid 5.

[0064] Fixedly attached to valve stem 17A is an armature 23, which projects into solenoid 5.

[0065] An electrical connector 24 is fixedly attached to fuel inlet 1. Inside the connector are a plurality of electrical terminals 25, electrically connected to solenoid 5.

Operation

[0066] Referring now to FIG. 2, the use of the injection and ignition device of the invention is illustrated. A fuel under a pressure substantially higher than engine cylinder pressure is fed into the injection and ignition device through fuel inlet 1. The fuel passes through fuel passage 2 and fuel port 3, around armature 23 and through the fuel passage grooves cut into injection valve 17. Fuel flow stops at the valve, which, in its non-activated position is resiliently urged against valve seat 9 by return spring 21, thereby providing a fluid tight seal between injection valve 17 and valve seat 9.

[0067] When electric pulses are fed to solenoid 5, armature 23 and injection valve 17, which is fixedly joined to the armature, are caused to lift off valve seat 9 and against the spring action of the return spring.

[0068] Stroke limiter 19 provides for substantially constant valve travel.

[0069] Injection valve 17 thereby opens and stays open for the duration of the electric pulse, permitting the fuel to flow into fuel discharge cavity 10. At least one main fuel jet 26 forms as part of the fuel flows out of the fuel discharge cavity through main injection ports 15. At least one pilot fuel jet 27 forms as the remainder of the fuel in the discharge cavity flows out through pilot injection port 15.

[0070] Since the total discharge area of the main injection ports is substantially greater than the total discharge area of the pilot injection ports, most of the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber of the engine, while a lesser fraction of the fuel is injected, through the pilot injection ports, into the volume defined by combustion shell 11.

[0071] When injection begins, the combustion chamber contains only air, which was drawn therein during the preceding induction stroke.

[0072] The fuel flow rate through the main injection ports is controlled such as to form a lean air-fuel mixture between the air present in the combustion chamber and the injected fuel.

[0073] Conversely, the fuel flow rate through the pilot injection ports is controlled such as to form a rich, or a stoichiometric, mixture inside the combustion shell. This mixture is easy to ignite with an electric spark.

[0074] When a substantially high voltage is applied to first electrode 8, an electric spark forms between first electrode 8 and second electrode 13, thereby causing the fuel trapped in the volume defined by the combustion shell to ignite. As the fuel burns inside the combustion shell, the pressure therein rises and a plurality of combustion flames 28 are ejected through torch nozzles 14, into the combustion chamber. Thus torch ignition of the lean mixture present in the combustion chamber occurs, permitting the engine to run on an overall leaner mixture than a homogenous charge spark ignition engine.

[0075] As illustrated by FIG. 3, the injection and ignition device of the invention takes advantage of the varying compression pressure to control fuel jet penetration and flow rate. Indeed, the injection occurs during the engine compression stroke, while the pressure inside the cylinder increases.

[0076]FIG. 3 shows the electric pulse waveform, and the compression pressure curve, versus degrees crank angle. The two parameters which define the injection process are the Injection Advance, henceforth referred to as IA and the duration of the electric signal applied to the solenoid, or Pulse Width, henceforth referred to as PW.

[0077] As revealed by the diagram in FIG. 3, the fuel control strategy relies on cylinder pressure as an input and the controller manipulates IA and PW to control the amount of fuel injected and the jet penetration into the combustion chamber. As cylinder pressure rises, jet penetration decreases, which contributes to the formation of the stratified charge.

Conclusion, Ramifications and Scope

[0078] Thus the reader will see that the injection and ignition device of the invention provides a simple yet effective stratified charge, torch ignition solution.

[0079] While our description contains many specificities, these should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example:

[0080] A different embodiment of the injection and ignition device of the invention utilizes a plurality of electrodes, arranged in a circular pattern surrounding the fuel injection valve.

[0081] Another embodiment relies solely on the fuel control strategy described by FIG. 3 to achieve charge stratification, and no combustion shell is used.

[0082] Yet in another embodiment, the valve is hydraulically actuated, rather than electrically.

[0083] Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

We claim:
 1. An injection and ignition device for preparing and igniting a nonhomogeneous stratified air-fuel mixture inside a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, comprising: (a) at least one injection valve, (b) said injection valve being fluidically connected to a source of combustible fuel at a pressure substantially higher than the pressure inside said cylinder of said internal combustion engine, (c) means, including a spring, for resiliently urging said injection valve to a closed position thereby preventing the flow of a fluid therethrough, (d) means for forcing said injection valve open for a predetermined time thereby allowing the flow of a predetermined quantity of said combustible fuel therethrough, (e) ignition means for igniting said combustible fuel inside said cylinder, (f) at least one main injection port fluidically connected to said injection valve at a first end and to the engine cylinder at a second end opposite to said first end, (g) at least one pilot injection port of substantially smaller area than said main injection port and wherein said pilot injection port is fluidically connected to said injection valve at a first end and to a region of the engine cylinder surrounding said ignition means, at a second end opposite to said first end, whereby a predetermined fuel dose is divided into a main fuel dose and a pilot fuel dose, and whereby injecting said main fuel dose into the internal combustion engine cylinder in a predetermined quantity and at a predetermined moment in time will, in co-operation with the varying cylinder pressure, form a lean mixture field inside said cylinder, and whereby injecting said pilot fuel dose in the proximity of said ignition means in a predetermined quantity and at a predetermined moment in time will, in co-operation with the varying cylinder pressure, form a rich mixture kernel surrounding said ignition means, and whereby said ignition means ignites said rich mixture kernel at a predetermined moment in time.
 2. The injection and ignition device of claim 1 , further including a combustion shell projecting into the combustion chamber of said cylinder such that a predetermined volume is delimited surrounding said at least one pilot injection orifice and surrounding said ignition means. whereby said pilot fuel dose will be injected into said predetermined volume inside of said combustion shell and said main fuel dose will be injected into the combustion chamber space outside of said shell, effectively allowing for a rich air-fuel mixture kernel to from inside the shell and for a lean air-fuel mixture field to form outside the same.
 3. The combustion shell of claim 2 , further including at least one flame ejection nozzle cut through the wall of said combustion shell such that when said pilot fuel dose is ignited inside said combustion shell, at least one combustion flame will be ejected therethrough, whereby promoting torch ignition of said lean air-fuel mixture field in the space outside of said combustion shell.
 4. The injection and ignition device of claim 1 wherein said means for forcing said injection valve open is the hydraulic force created by pressure applied to an incompressible fluid.
 5. The injection and ignition device of claim 1 wherein said means for forcing said injection valve open is an electromagnet.
 6. The injection and ignition device of claim 1 wherein said ignition means comprise: (a) at least one positive electrode, electrically connected to an external voltage source, (b) at least one negative electrode, electrically connected to the engine ground, whereby applying a positive voltage of predetermined magnitude to said positive electrode will generate an electric spark.
 7. The injection and ignition device of claim 1 wherein said ignition means is electrically induced incandescence.
 8. A control system for an injection and ignition system for internal combustion engines, comprising: (a) an electronic control unit capable of generating at least one output signal, (b) at least one pressure transducer capable of supplying to said electronic control unit an electric signal proportional to the pressure inside a cylinder of said internal combustion engine, whereby said electronic control unit determines the moment in time and the duration of said output signal based on a computational processing of said electric signal. 